Distraction to Deception by John Belt

Distraction to Deception

No one plans on deception happening to them. Deception is something that people “fall” into. It is not something that you would allow to happen if you knew it was happening. So when Jesus said, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do”, it was a statement of forgiveness and fact. The fact is that those who crucified Him would not have done so if they had known that He was the Lord of Glory. To be deceived is to believe a lie. Believing a lie ensnares a person. It is a trap. Believing a lie is also precursor to committing sin and walking contrary to the will of God. This is why it is so important to “see with our eyes” and to “hear with our ears”. If we see clearly we will not fall into a pit. If we hear the words of God faith will grow in our hearts, seeds of life will sprout within us – growing up within our hearts to fruitfulness and fulfillment of God’s desires and purposes. How can we see clearer?
How can we hear?

Undivided Attention

Growing up in school it was common for the teacher to ask and command the class for their “undivided attention”. This is a good phrase to use in speaking about hearing the words of God. If our attention is divided between two different worlds then we will be distracted and consequently not able to carry out the tasks that the Lord has designed for our lives. It does not usually take much to distract most people. A fly can be a distraction. As scripture states, satan is lord of the flies. This is a good way to look at the devil, a fly. This minimizes him to a level where we can deal with him easily. For surely God can convince us that we have enough authority in Christ to swat a fly. Now the issue is really not whether we “can” swat a fly that distracts us – the question is “will” we swat the fly that is a distraction to our consecration to the things of God. Jesus clearly states that we cannot serve two masters – we will love one and despise the other. So the issue of idolatry must be dealt with. These idols (gods) are those things that divide our hearts from whole-hearted commitment to the Lord and what He desires. So we could say that distraction leads to deception.

Eve in the Garden

Going to the garden we see that Eve was distracted by the voice of the serpent. What was she doing hanging around that old serpent anyway? Maybe could say that God allowed it, just as he allows all of us to be tested giving us freedom to make our choices. So Eve could have prevented the deception by cutting off the communication with slew foot at the get go, but didn't. (note: Eve was the one deceived – Adam was seduced) We can choose a quick cut-off route to clear communal – communication in the Presence of God by removing the distractions – making them obedient to Christ. Taking this option will save us much and many problems.What can happen is we try to operate in two totally different worlds which clutters communication with the Father. We need undivided hearts with pure motives pursuing His heart that we may know and walk in His ways.

Another Vantage Point

We can look at this from another vantage point as well – sinful nature vs. divine nature. These two natures are two different worlds within us. Scripture teaches that if we are mature we will know the difference between these two natures, flesh and spirit. I’m definitely a proponent of keeping things as simple as possible Jesus really desires all to understand the things of God. So thankfully He has given us His Word, which is the sharpest spiritual weapon to the dividing of the soulish nature and the spirit of man. So when we look to define and understand these two worlds within us we can simply go to His Word and receive the Spirit of Truth’s guidance to bring it alive as revelation and life. Deception moves us away from simplicity of devotion to Christ. Works, religiosity and the natural mind of man set in to begin to frame another way of doing things apart from the Father. Religion makes things very complex with many hoops, hops, skips, jumps, dos and don’ts without a smidge of intimacy, love, simple trust and faith. Which in turn makes men very hard-hearted, without tenderness, humility and godly affections.

The Cure

The Cure is the cross of Jesus that brings healing and restoration to the Father. The blood of the cross is central and is the ransom paid that we might have access into intimacy with our God and Father. Simple trust in the cross, His righteousness, His love for us and the Way He made for us is what enables us to enter into the rest created for us in Him before the foundation of the world.

Prayers to Pray: Open my eyes to see things from Your perspective . . .
Declarations to Make: I open my heart to receive Your truth and living revelation . . .
Action to Take:Meditate on Psalm 119:2

Ps 119:2
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!